Transgender Literature Essay

Chapter I

Introduction

Literature is a body of written works. The name has traditionally been applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetic excellence of their execution. The art of literature is not reducible to the words on the page; they are there solely because of the craft of writing. As an art, literature might be described as the organization of words to give pleasure. Yet through words literature elevates and transforms experience beyond “mere” pleasure. Literature also functions more broadly in society as a means of both criticizing and affirming cultural values. It not only portrays the imitation of human action but also serves as a corrective mirror

The word “transgender” – or trans – is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to us at birth. Although the word “transgender” and our modern definition of it only came into use in the late 20th century, people who would fit under this definition have existed in every culture throughout recorded history. Transgender identity is not a mental illness that can be cured with treatment. Rather, transgender people often experience a persistent and authentic disconnect between the sex assigned to them at birth and their internal sense of who they

Many suffer through rejection from their family, friends or significant others at times, and the suicide rates are very high. From a National Transgender Discrimination Survey, poll respondents were found to have attempted to take their own lives around 41% of the time. This is significant, as sexual assault is one of the largest causes, followed by physical assault or harassment, and job losses due to various biases. 19% from a study from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reported suffering from domestic abuse. Whether in society or at home, there are still many challenges for a transgender